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TRL3708 ASSIGNMENT 4 SEMESTER 2 2023
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TRL3708ASSIGNMENT 4
SEMESTER 2
2023
INTRODUCTION
The automotive industry, marked by global competition, technological advancements, and
intricate supply chains, necessitates efficient supply chain management for success. To
address these challenges, Ambe and Badenhorst-Weiss propose a strategic supply chain
framework tailored to the automotive sector. This framework is built on three foundational
pillars: collaboration, agility, and visibility. Collaboration emphasizes the need for automotive
companies to work closely with suppliers to enhance supply chain efficiency. Agility
underscores the importance of adaptability in response to shifting customer demands and
technological changes. Lastly, visibility stresses the significance of real-time tracking and
monitoring of inventory and shipments to identify and mitigate risks. This holistic framework
offers a comprehensive strategy for automotive companies to achieve their objectives in a
complex and dynamic supply chain environment.
1.1 Cost Trade-offs related to Transportation and Inventory:
Theory (3 marks): In the realm of supply chain management, there exists a fundamental
concept of cost trade-offs between transportation and inventory. This principle is grounded
in the understanding that supply chain operations must delicately balance the expenses
associated with transportation and inventory. These transportation costs encompass
elements like fuel, labour, and maintenance, all of which are incurred during the movement
, of goods from suppliers to manufacturers and subsequently to customers (Bowersox et al.,
2020). In parallel, inventory costs encapsulate expenditures associated with storing products,
such as warehousing, insurance, and the potential loss from obsolescence. Fundamentally,
holding more inventory allows for less frequent deliveries and more efficient transportation,
thereby reducing transportation costs. However, this concurrently raises inventory costs due
to the need for storage facilities, insurance coverage, and the risk of obsolete or unsold
inventory.
Application (3 marks): BMW SA's adept handling of these cost trade-offs is vividly illustrated
in its case study (Ambe & Badenhorst-Weiss, 2010). Through an investment in a cutting-edge
transportation management system, BMW SA adeptly optimizes its transportation routes and
consolidates shipments, thereby effectively reducing transportation costs. This strategy
ensures that routes are planned with utmost efficiency and deliveries are made in the most
cost-effective manner. Simultaneously, BMW SA has astutely fostered strategic partnerships
with its suppliers to implement a just-in-time delivery system. This operational framework
guarantees that inventory is received solely when it is required within the manufacturing
process, minimizing inventory holding costs. For instance, with inventory arriving only when
needed, the necessity for extensive storage space is diminished, leading to lower insurance
expenses. These pragmatic applications serve as concrete evidence of how BMW SA is
proficiently managing the intricate trade-offs between transportation and inventory costs.
1.2 Relationship between Customer Service Level and Cost:
Theory (3 marks): At the core of logistics strategy formulation lies the critical evaluation of
the relationship between customer service level and cost. This theoretical construct hinges
on the premise that as organizations endeavour to provide a higher level of customer service,
they typically find themselves expending more resources, consequently inflating their
operational costs (Bowersox et al., 2020). This trade-off mandates a judicious and strategic
approach to decision-making when it comes to defining the level of service an organization
intends to offer to its customer base.
Application (3 marks): A poignant illustration of this trade-off comes to light when comparing
the approaches of BMW SA and Ford SA to customer service (Ambe & Badenhorst-Weiss,
2010). BMW SA positions a substantial emphasis on delivering a superior level of customer
service, evident through its commitment to shorter delivery times and more comprehensive
warranties. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge that these enhancements come
with an associated cost, rendering BMW SA's vehicles generally more expensive than their
counterparts from Ford SA. In contrast, Ford SA has consciously adopted a more conservative
approach to customer service, reflected in extended delivery times and less comprehensive
warranties. This strategic choice translates into lower vehicle prices for customers and a
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